Chapter Three:  Pear Hips

Tuesday September 4, 2012

Blaine stretched his arm across the bed, reaching to pull Kurt closer. But all he felt was Berlioz curled up against Kurt’s pillow. He frowned, rolling over to glance at the alarm clock. It was three o’clock in the morning.

“Kurt?” Blaine called out, stifling a yawn.

“In here,” Kurt’s voice sounded from his closet.

Blaine climbed out of bed, walking into Kurt’s closet to see his fiancé holding up a purple button-down shirt. Kurt frowned at the shirt before hanging it back up. He reached for a different shirt, holding it up to a pair of black skintight jeans.

“Kurt, it’s three in the morning. What are you doing up?” Blaine asked, taking the shirt from Kurt and returning it to its proper place.

“I woke up and realized my outfit for today was completely wrong. I need to figure out what I’m going to wear now,” Kurt said.

“You can decide in the morning. Come back to bed,” Blaine tugged on Kurt’s arm.

“I can’t sleep, not until I get this figured out,” Kurt protested, pulling his arm out of Blaine’s grasp.

“Kurt, I know you’re nervous, but you can’t drive yourself crazy over every little detail. Now come on. I’m not taking no for an answer,” Blaine said. He pulled Kurt out of his closet, closing the door firmly behind him. Kurt knew there was no point in fighting and followed Blaine to their bed.

Blaine moved Berlioz to the foot of the bed before climbing into it, opening his arms to Kurt. Kurt moved into his arms, laying his head on Blaine’s chest. He breathed in his comforting scent. The last thing he remembered before he fell asleep was Blaine’s soothing voice assuring him, “Everything will be all right.”

K/B

When Blaine woke next, it was again to find Kurt’s side of the bed empty. He heard the baby grand piano playing from the library downstairs. Pulling himself out of bed, Blaine dressed quickly before walking down the stairs. To his immediate right was an open door. Blaine walked through it to see Kurt sitting in front of the piano, practicing the song he would perform for Carmen Tibideaux.

The library was beautifully decorated with hardwood floors and white paneled walls. A Persian rug lay in front of a large fireplace with two chairs facing the hearth. Bookcases wrapped around the entire room, even over the chaise lounge that was pushed against the wall closest to Blaine. In the far left corner was a black baby grand Steinway piano. Blaine sat in one of the chairs in front of the fireplace, listening to Kurt sing. He didn’t speak until he was finished, not wanting to interrupt.

“You’re perfect,” Blaine told him.

Kurt jumped. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

“You were focused,” Blaine told him. “Do you feel any better?”

"Not really. I’m still nervous,” Kurt admitted. Blaine moved to sit beside him on the piano bench.

“You’re going to be just fine. Your professors aren’t going to know what hit them,” Blaine vowed, kissing him lovingly.

Kurt smiled, returning Blaine’s kiss. Kurt only hoped he was right. His future was depending on this.

K/B

The first day had been a disaster so far. Kurt spilt coffee on himself on the way to school and didn’t have time to turn around to change. He got lost twice and his professors chewed him out for being late. And his dance instructor hated him. Of course, she hated most of her students, but Kurt and Rachel particularly.

Her name was Cassandra July. She was tall, blonde, and highly intimidating. Cassie had the class learning an impossibly difficult dance number on their first day. Rachel and Kurt both struggled to keep up. Cassie walked around the room, finding something wrong with each student. Finally, she got to Kurt and Rachel.

“Pear Hips and David Schwimmer,” she said, looking at Rachel and Kurt.

“Do you mean us?” Rachel asked timidly.

“Yes, you. I bet you were big stars in some small Midwestern town,” Cassie guessed. “Well here, you are nothing. And you will be hard-pressed to ever become something. As far as I can tell, you’re both hopeless but as the only person allowed to cut you is Carmen Tibideaux, I am forced to teach you. And you will try your hardest or I will make your life a living hell. Got it?”

Kurt and Rachel nodded. They were both glad when Cassie moved on to the next student. After the class was over, they met up with Blaine and Finn for lunch. The second Kurt walked through the door Blaine could tell he was having an urge.

“What happened?” Blaine asked, on his feet instantly. Kurt fell into Blaine’s arms, allowing himself to relax for the first time that day, in the comfort of Blaine’s loving embrace.

“Our dance teacher is awful,” Rachel answered for Kurt. She launched into a detailed explanation of Cassie July’s teaching methods.

“I can’t believe she said that,” Finn said when Rachel was finished.

“You need to tell someone,” Blaine added, rubbing soothing circles over Kurt’s shoulders.

“Like who? It doesn’t matter. We need this class to graduate,” Kurt said, slumping into a chair at their table.

“Are you okay?” Blaine asked. “Did you take your medicine?”

“I’m fine,” Kurt lied.

“You didn’t . . . you know, did you?” Finn asked awkwardly.

“Of course not, Finn,” Kurt said angrily. Just because he was triggered didn’t mean he would give in to temptation.

Kurt was quiet through the rest of lunch, which deeply concerned Blaine. As much as he wanted to persuade Kurt to talk, he knew he would not do so before he was ready. He watched Kurt leave with Rachel with a frown, hoping he would be ready to talk that night.

K/B

After lunch, things weren’t as bad. Kurt had one more class with Rachel. They met in the Round Room for Carmen Tibideaux’s class. Rachel was already in the room, saving him a seat, when he arrived.

“Are you nervous?” he asked as he sat down.

"Terrified. You?” Rachel asked in a shaky voice.

“Same,” Kurt said. Before either could say anything more, Carmen Tibideaux was striding into the room.

“Good afternoon, students. You are here because you were handpicked by me to attend this school. I can decide to revoke that invitation if I see fit. Your first opportunity to sing is today. Shall we begin? Where is Kurt Hummel?”

Kurt’s eyes widened and he stopped breathing. Rachel nudged him, whispering “Breathe,” as he shakily got to his feet. He walked to the front of the room, trying to ignore the fact that all eyes were on him.

“My name is Kurt Hummel. I will be singing ‘Climb Every Mountain’ from the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, The Sound of Music.”

Kurt drew in a deep breath before he began to sing.

Climb every mountain,

Search high and low,

Follow every byway,

Every path you know.

Kurt had chosen the song to honor his mother. The Sound of Music had been her favorite movie. She had insisted on naming him after Kurt Von Trapp. The movie would always hold a special place in his heart and it never failed to remind him of his mother.

Climb every mountain,

Ford every stream,

Follow every rainbow,

'Till you find your dream.

After everything that he had been through, the song had a special meaning for Kurt. Blaine was always assuring him that they could get through anything together. To Kurt, this song symbolized that.

A dream that will need

All the love you can give,

Every day of your life

For as long as you live.

Kurt knew his fellow students all had the same dream as him:  Broadway. He also knew it was highly unlikely that his dream would ever become a reality. But he would try his hardest to achieve his goals.

Climb every mountain.

Ford every stream.

Follow every rainbow.

Till you find your dream!

Rachel was smiling widely at Kurt as he sang. Their eyes locked and she nodded encouragingly.

Climb every mountain.

Ford every stream.

Follow every rainbow.

Till you find your dream!

“Very good, Mr. Hummel. Thank you,” Tibideaux said before calling the next performer.

Kurt breathed a sigh of relief as he took his seat next to Rachel. She reached out and squeezed his hand. Kurt offered her a smile. He had survived his first day of classes.

K/B

Kurt was mentally and physically exhausted by the time he and Rachel returned to the apartment late that afternoon. Rachel immediately started dinner, knowing Finn would be hungry. Kurt heard a guitar playing from the living room. He walked into the room, smiling when he saw Blaine sitting on the couch with the guitar in his lap.

“What’re you working on?” Kurt asked, sitting next to him.

Blaine jumped. When he spoke he sounded slightly disappointed, “I was going to surprise you.”

“Well I think you can say you have. I wasn’t expecting you to be playing when I got home. Can I hear it?”

Blaine smiled and nodded.

Friday night and the moon is high

I'm wide-awake just watchin' you sleep.

And I promise you you're gonna have

More than just the things that you need.

We ain't got much now, we're just startin' out.

But I know somehow paradise is comin'.

Blaine knew Kurt’s first day had not lived up to his expectations. He knew that would only increase his fears that New York would let him down. Blaine only wanted Kurt to be happy. He wanted to give him everything he could ever want and need. And while Blaine could certainly offer Kurt some things, he could not change his dance teacher’s opinion.

Someday, baby, you and I are gonna be the ones

Good luck's gonna shine.

Someday, baby, you and I are gonna be the ones

So hold on.

We're headed for a better life.

Despite the way things had gone today, Blaine was hopeful that it was not a sign of things to come. Things would get better. After all, they had been through a lot worse before and gotten through it. They would get through this too.

Oh, now there's a place for you and me

Where we can dream as big as the sky.

I know it's hard to see it now

But baby someday we're gonna fly.

This road we're on, you know it might be long;

But my faith is strong,

It's all that really matters.

New York was a fresh start for them. In Lima, all they could have were dreams. In New York, they had the opportunity to make those dreams come true. They just had to have faith that things would work out in the end.

Someday baby, you and I are gonna be the ones

Good luck's gonna shine.

Someday baby you and I are gonna be the ones

So hold on.

We're headed for a better life.

Kurt’s life hadn’t turned out the way he had wanted. But now things were finally looking up. He had escaped small-minded Lima, Ohio for the bright lights of New York City. He was engaged to the love of his life, living with him in a place they called their own. And maybe one day his dreams would finally come true.

So hold on, hold on.

C'mon baby, hold on.

Yeah, we're gonna have it all.

And ooh.

Someday baby, you and I are gonna be the ones

Good luck's gonna shine.

Yes, it is.

Someday baby, you and I are gonna be the ones

So hold on.

Just hold on.

Yes, things were finally looking up. It had taken a long time, but things were getting better. Kurt could not remember a time when he had felt so free. It was exhilarating.

Someday baby, you and I are gonna be the ones

Good luck's gonna shine.

Shine on now.

Someday baby you and I are gonna be the ones

So hold on.

We're headed for a better life.

Oh, a better life now.

A better life!

Hey we're gonna leave this all behind us baby, wait and see.

We're headed for a better life, you and me.

We're gonna break the chains that bind and, finally we'll be free.

We're gonna be the ones that have it all, you and me.

Just hold on tight now, baby.

When Blaine had played the last notes, Kurt took the guitar from him, setting it aside. He straddled Blaine’s lap, wrapping his arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. Blaine smiled against his lips, putting his hands on Kurt’s hips and pulling him closer. When they finally pulled apart, Blaine whispered, “I take it you liked it.”

“I loved it. I love you,” Kurt said, kissing him once more.

“I love you too.”

“Forever and always?”

“Forever and always.”